ANIMAL
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS TIPS FOR DOGS WHO BARK & LUNGE ON WALKS
5CANCER
STEPS TO REDUCING THE RISK OF
DO YOU AND YOUR DOG SHARE PERSONALITY TRAITS? MUST-HAVE GEAR
FOR ADVENTURE DOGS CAN CBD HELP TREAT CANCER?
STOP EAR
INFECTIONS
– ONCE AND FOR ALL!
A DOG’S JOURNEY The story of “A Dog’s Purpose” continues with this heartwarming sequel, featuring Odin as Bailey!
JUNE/JULY 2019 Display until July 9, 2019
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 3
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
BONUS INSIDE!
CONTENTS
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Walden Media
June/July 2019
Columns 18 TRENDING NOW
58
Features 14 – is it possible?
P reventing cancer in pets
While no one can predict which dogs or cats will develop cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
28 and cats
O rgan meats – superfoods for dogs Packed with vital nutrients, organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart can add a rich array of health benefits to your animal’s diet.
32 for dogs
M ust-have outdoor adventure gear Whether you hike, camp, swim or kayak with your dog, you need the right gear! Take a look at some essential canine adventure equipment.
58 COVER STORY – Odin 72
The story of A Dog’s Purpose continues with a heartwarming sequel, starring the lovable Odin as Bailey!
Does your dog lunge and bark on walks? The key to stopping your canine companion from barking and lunging on the leash is to identify his triggers and re-train him not to react to them.
90
Keep your kitty’s eyes healthy
A variety of eye problems can affect cats. Know what a healthy feline eye looks like, and how to recognize any red flags that require veterinary attention.
4
68
Animal Wellness
Dedicated living spaces for dogs and cats
Trends show that a growing number of people are incorporating dedicated spaces for their animal companions into their home designs. Here are 5 cool ways you can do the same.
22 HEALING
INSIDE & OUT
Does your dog have recurring ear infections?
Most canine ear infections are caused by yeast, not bacteria, and conventional treatments usually result in recurring problems. A more holistic approach can yield better results.
26 CANINE BEHAVIOR
“P-mail” – how dogs use urine to communicate
Dogs may not have access to email or social media, but they have their own ways of communicating long distance. One is through their urine.
36 DIAGNOSTICS
Cancer tests for dogs and cats
Early diagnosis is vital when dealing with cancer. Learn how a blood profile and ultrasound can help catch signs of inflammation or malignancy before your dog or cat gets sick.
40 AGING WELL Canine cataracts
Cataracts in dogs have many causes. While surgery is the only treatment, there are ways to help prevent or slow the progression of this common condition.
42 FUN & GAMES
Water sports for you and your dog
Looking for a way to stay cool this summer? Grab your canine companion and try one – or all – of these exciting water sports!
48 NATURAL REMEDY
How cannabis benefits animals with cancer Hemp-derived CBD may help treat cancer in dogs and cats, while easing symptoms and treatment side effects.
52 CASE STUDY
Tilley’s tale – how a senior dog adapted to blindness When this high-energy canine developed cataracts and glaucoma, an integrative treatment approach, including acupressure-massage, helped her adjust to being blind.
94
48 62 IN FOCUS
76 HEALTH ALERT
Clear Canine Cancer
This non-profit foundation funds research into canine cancer, and produces documentaries for those whose dogs have been diagnosed with lymphoma and other malignancies.
68 NEED TO KNOW
Flying with your dog?
Thanks to public demand, air travel for dogs is improving, but you still need to take steps to ensure your canine’s safety and comfort.
71 Top animal-
friendly US airports
Planning a trip with your dog or cat? Try to work one of these airports into your itinerary and enjoy all the animalfriendly amenities!
Leptospirosis – should you vaccinate your dog? Find out what causes leptospirosis, how it’s treated, and whether or not you should consider vaccinating your dog.
78 VET Q&A
96 MODALITY HIGHLIGHT
Acupuncture has many applications for cats
This ancient healing modality can effectively address a wide range of health conditions in felines.
98 Do you and
Can a ketogenic diet help animals with cancer?
your dog share personality traits?
Cancer is not only a genetic or inflammatory disease – it’s also a metabolic disease. A keto diet can starve a dog or cat’s cancer cells by targeting their metabolic characteristics.
A new study reveals that you probably do!
78
94 LIFESTYLE
6 steps to mastering “cat-mindfulness” You don’t need to take a course to learn to be mindful – let your feline friend be your teacher!
Departments 8 From the Editorin-Chief
12 In the news 25 Product picks 47 Business profile – Rover’s Pet
61 Cool ideas for summer
66 Wellness
resource guide
82 To the rescue
86 Classifieds 87 Must reads 88 Events 93 Cat chat
83 Let's get social 85 Marketplace
Social Media
Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
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5
ORGAN MEATS – superfoods for dogs and cats Packed with vital nutrients, organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart can add a rich array of health benefits to your animal’s diet.
By Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, CVA
D gs Cats
In the wild, a carnivore receives balanced nutrition by consuming a prey animal. Inside that rabbit, squirrel or mouse are naturallybalanced proportions of flesh, bones, pre-digested vegetation – and organs. The latter provide a necessary array of nutrients for dogs and cats, yet the diets we feed our companion animals often contain a limited quantity of organ meat (see sidebar opposite). Truth is, organ meats can be considered superfoods for our animal companions, and adding them to the diet can enhance their health in many ways.
LIVER Liver is one of the most commonly-fed organs, perhaps because it is the most readily available. The liver often receives a bad reputation as food because it is a detoxification organ. Studies prove that the liver is a filter. It does not store toxins. There are no more toxic residues left in the liver than in the kidneys or muscles when analyzed post-mortem. The liver provides a whole-food source of vitamins A, D, E and K – all the important fatsoluble vitamins. Studies show that dogs and cats have as many or more toxins in their systems as their human counterparts in the same home and environment. The livers in these animals need help with detoxification. Many are born with liver diseases that compromise their ability to detox, and many others develop liver disease, even cancer, as they age. Add liver, obtained from young animals, as an adjunct to a fresh, healthy and complete diet.
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Animal Wellness
HEART The heart is high in an amino acid called taurine. This nutrient is vital to proper heart function but is destroyed in the heating process. Interestingly, taurine levels are highest in the heart muscles of mice, which means the species most profoundly affected by dietary taurine deficiency is the feline. Cats that eat diets lacking in taurine succumb to a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart is also the best food source of CoQ10, an enzyme important for energy balance and preventing oxidative stress. Many patients with chronic conditions are deficient in CoQ10 and have mitochondrial damage. Mitochondria are the furnaces in your pet’s cells. Bison, venison and beef hearts are some of the best sources of CoQ10. Many scientists now believe that mitochondrial malfunction is the underlying cause of cancer. Continued on page 30.
MANY PET FOODS LACK
ORGAN MEAT
Nature designed prey animals to provide predators with a balanced diet. When we cook and process food, we unknowingly destroy many nutrients. Adding these missing nutrients back in with synthetic vitamin/mineral versions can be inadequate or even toxic. For example, recent news reported an excess of vitamin D in recalled processed pet diets. Other reports say some dogs are suffering from taurine deficiency due to a lack of this nutrient in certain dry kibble diets.
What can we do to ensure our dogs and cats receive all these important nutrients in the correct amounts? One option is to feed fresh food and supplement or treat with a variety of organs or entrails. Thankfully, many pet food, treat and supplement manufacturers have recognized this need. Although many people may find the thought of obtaining and feeding organs to their dogs or cats to be grotesque, it’s important to realize that our own human ancestors realized the value of organ meats and consumed them on a frequent basis. Many cultures still do so today.
Animal Wellness
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